Dr. Peter Orkin, of The New York Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell
Medical Center (phew!), says that an elevated resting heart rate,
developing or persisting over years, is worrisome. It signifies that
the patient needs further evaluation to determine the cause.

The study, published in the European Heart Journal, finds that those
with a higher heart rate, over time, had a 55% greater risk of
cardiovascular death and a 79% greater risk of death, from all
causes.

"It is easy and inexpensive to determine heart rate and in fact, is
done routinely in a doctor's office," said Dr. Orkin, the leading
investigator in the study. (You can also monitor your heart rate at
home, or anywhere, for that matter, for less than $100.) Dr. Orkin
suggests that physicians need to track this information over a
number of years, not just consider single readings.

A healthy heart rate is between 60 and 80 beats per minute.
Another way you can help yourself to get an acceptable reading is by
taking pharmaceutical grade fish oil, an ultra pure, enteric coated,
pharmaceutical grade fish oil. The regular consumption of fish oil
reduces the resting heart rate and it has a bundle of other cardio
protective qualities, as well.

This information is based on studies of the resting heart rate. When
you exercise, your heart rate can be much higher, depending on what
you are doing. This is perfectly normal and no doctor need be
involved.

If your resting heart rate is consistently above 80, you probably
need to see a physician, because this is an indication that
something is amiss. Persistently high heart rate, along with
persistently high blood pressure, needs to be evaluated and treated
immediately.